Allgemein » ran its winning streak to nine with a 113-100 r

To watch the NFL Draft from afar and to witness the drama unfold in person are two completely different things. Like many of you, Ive sat in front of my TV watching teams cherry pick the cream of college football talent down the years, but on this occasion they werent just names on a board, these were individuals I met in person. For however brief the time, I had a sense of the pressure, the nervous excitement, the demands on their time that this years highly touted players were subjected to in Draft week. Jared Goff tells Richard Graves hes ready for the pressure of leading the Los Angeles Rams Twenty-four hours before the biggest day of their lives - a day where they would become instant millionaires - these young men were out and about in Chicago visiting hospitals and engaging with children at a Play60 event.Jared Goff, who would eventually be the first player selected in this years Draft, struck me by his calm demeanour. Such great composure for a college graduate, aware he would carry the hopes and expectations of an entire team and its fan base. Goff joined everyone else in huddles, fielding every question thrown his way and all did it with a remarkable maturity. Eli Apple tells Richard Graves why he almost didnt pick up the phone call from the New York Giants The Draft is a marquee event in the NFLs calendar and it is big business for the city which stages it. Fans from across the country gather to be a part of it, security is tight - even police dogs had their own accreditation badges around their necks! Its an occasion where the Commissioner plays the role of pantomime villain, getting roundly booed every time he walks to the podium, but its also an event which means this organisation commands the national spotlight and the NFL arent in the habit of wasting such opportunities.Roger Goodell was ever-present, proudly lauding the qualities of this Draft class, keen to raise the leagues profile and acutely aware that its not just American eyes watching. Carson Wentz talks to Richard Graves about his selection by the Philadelphia Eagles For the second straight year, Sky Sports were welcomed in and afforded our own set inside the auditorium - Dara Kennedy, Neil Reynolds, Jeff Reinbold and I witnessed the drama unfold. So, the Commissioner seized this opportunity to send a football message back to the UK.With a game scheduled in Mexico for the coming season and plans to stage a game in China in 2018, Goodell took time time out of his schedule to speak to us directly and stated that plans to expand interest elsewhere have no implication for the game in the UK, insisting fans here can expect more games, more interest, more activity. Even in draft week, there can be no doubt, developing the game outside of the US remains a top priority. Richard Graves gives us behind-the-scenes access to the Jacksonville Jaguars But this week was about the league welcoming its newest stars. From Goff realising he is the new face of the Rams, to Laremy Tunsil - a man for so long projected to be the first man picked but who slid all the way down to 13 after a video of him apparently smoking appeared online, to Eli Apple admitting he very nearly didnt even answer his phone when the Giants called because he thought it was a prank call from a friend, these few days in Chicago had all of the drama, the excitement and the headline grabbing moments the NFL thrives on.If ever there was an example of how the NFL is now a 365-day-a-year business, this was it. No pass was thrown, no tackle made nor a touchdown scored but the NFL had football fans hanging on every word spoken, and every move was scrutinised. Richard Graves takes you backstage at the 2016 NFL Draft. The influx of fresh faces to all 32 franchises means already pundits and fans alike are projecting who will make a Super Bowl run and who will be picking No 1 in 12 months time. In Chicago dreams were realised, hopes were raised, expectations lifted and yet this is just the beginning. Pick Six Neil Reynolds analyses six key storylines Also See: Goff picked at No 1 Pick Six Duo drafted despite injuries WATCH: Jags in London Günstige Nike Air Force 1 . -- Augusta James of Bath, Ont. Air Force 270 Deutschland Kaufen . The question all fans want to know heading into this light heavyweight affair is will Rua display his true potential. Working with UFC welterweight fighter Demian Maias team in Sao Paulo Brazil and having training partners such as fellow UFC stand outs Fabio Maldonado and Daniel Sarafian, the 32-year old feels very well prepared for Friday nights encounter. http://www.airforce1gunstig.de/ .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. Nike Air Force 1 Deutschland . The game had many controversial incidents that, upon closer inspection, were not as controversial as many believed. The Formations Toronto FC lined up in its usual 4-4-2 formation, with Nick Hagglund slotting in at right fullback and Bradley Orr at centreback in place of the injured Mark Bloom and Steven Caldwell, respectively. Air Force 1 Damen Sale .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.OKLAHOMA CITY - The Toronto Raptors will be in search of another victory over a tough Western Conference opponent tonight when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. You can see the game on TSN beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors are in the midst of a four-game trek and got off to a great start with a 109-108 overtime victory on Friday in Dallas over the Mavericks. DeMar DeRozans jumper with 1:11 left in overtime proved to be the difference as the Raptors held the Mavs scoreless to close out the extra session. It was DeRozan who sent the game to overtime with two of his 15 points with just 16 seconds left. "We were sleepwalking early. I thought we were feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit. I had to get their attention and they did. Guys responded," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "They came out swinging, hit us with a haymaker, and Im proud of the way our guys fought back. Thats what the NBA is all about." Kyle Lowry scored a team-high 20 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 18 with 13 rebounds while Terrence Ross and Amir Johnson finished with 15 points apiece for the Raptors, who have won three of their last four. Greivis Vasquez managed 14 for the second unit. The Raps will also visit San Antonio and New York on this sojourn. The Thunder have won three straight against Toronto. The Raptors have dropped two straight and six of the last seven as the visitor in this series. Okllahoma City will try to run its winning streak to 10 games tonight against the visiting Raptors.dddddddddddd The Thunder havent lost since a Dec. 4 setback in Portland to the Trail Blazers. Oklahoma City is the lone remaining undefeated team at home with a perfect 13-0 mark. OKC ran its winning streak to nine with a 113-100 road victory Saturday night over the San Antonio Spurs. The Thunder took control of the game with a 40-29 second quarter and held the ultra-efficient Spurs under 43 percent shooting, while connecting at a 49 percent clip. Russell Westbrook was dynamic on Saturday with 31 points on 13-for-22 shooting. He handed out eight assists, grabbed four rebounds and only committed three turnovers. "Hes an All-Star and playing like one every night," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of Westbrook. "He makes us go with his effort, with his toughness, with his team mentality and the last couple of years, the game has slowed down. He sees so many things on the floor. He does a great job of running our sets and does a great job of leading our defense." Reggie Jackson had 21 off the bench and Kevin Durant, the NBAs leading scorer, finished with 17. Serge Ibaka enjoyed a great all-around game with 14 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. The Thunder head out for a two-game road trip, starting in Madison Square Garden on Christmas afternoon against the New York Knicks. ' ' '